Dictionary — Entry No. 0093
잠깐만
jamkkanman · interjection / expression
잠깐만
jamkkanman
[jahm-KKAN-man]
interjection / expression
intermediate
Meaning
잠깐만 (jamkkanman) literally means “just a moment” or “wait a second” — built from 잠깐 (jamkkan, “briefly”) and 만 (man, “just/only”). It’s the go-to phrase when you need someone to pause: catching up to a friend, processing shocking news, or buying yourself a second to think. Casual and direct, it’s the everyday Korean equivalent of “hold on!” or “one sec!” — short, sharp, and universally understood.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
잠깐만 is arguably the most-heard phrase in K-drama — you’ll catch it in nearly every episode of beloved series like Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착) and Goblin (도깨비), wherever urgency or surprise strikes. In the K-pop world, BTS members drop 잠깐만 constantly in their Bangtan Bomb videos and Run BTS! episodes whenever something unexpected happens mid-conversation — RM and Jin are especially notorious for the flustered mid-sentence 잠깐만! The legendary Korean singer-songwriter Kim Dong-ryul even titled one of his most iconic ballads “잠깐만,” proving that this tiny phrase can carry the full weight of longing and heartbreak.
Example Sentences
잠깐만, 나 지갑 놓고 왔어!
Jamkkanman, na jigap noko wasseo!
Wait a sec — I left my wallet behind! (That panicked realization mid-stride)
잠깐만, 그게 무슨 말이야?
Jamkkanman, geuge museun mariya?
Hold on — what do you mean by that? (The stunned pause before the drama really starts)
잠깐만요, 저도 같이 가도 될까요?
Jamkkanmanyo, jeodo gachi gado doelkkayo?
Wait — can I come with you too? (Polite version; that hopeful, slightly breathless ask)
⚠️ Don’t use jamkkanman when…
- Speaking to elders, teachers, or strangers without the polite ending — 잠깐만 alone sounds blunt and can come across as rude. Always add 요 (yo) → 잠깐만요 to stay respectful with anyone you’re not close to.
- You need someone to wait more than a few seconds — 잠깐만 signals you’ll be back instantly. For a longer pause, use 잠시만 기다려 주세요 (jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo, “please wait a moment”) instead.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착, 2019) — uttered in split-second, tension-soaked scenes where a single moment of hesitation changes everything between Ri Jeong-hyeok and Yoon Se-ri.
- K-Pop: Kim Dong-ryul — “잠깐만” — one of Korea’s most beloved ballads, where the phrase becomes a desperate plea to a departing love: just wait, just one moment more.
💡 Did You Know? Korean has two near-synonyms for “just a moment” — 잠깐만 (casual, used with friends) and 잠시만요 (formal, used with elders or strangers). The difference isn’t just politeness: 잠깐 (jamkkan) implies something brief and spontaneous, while 잠시 (jamsi) feels slightly more measured and deliberate. It’s a tiny window into Korea’s layered speech levels — where even “hold on!” reveals exactly how close you are to the person you’re talking to.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.